by RAF KATIGBAK

Independent music fests should mean more than just kids with thick-rimmed glasses, pseudo-ironic vintage tees and perfectly unkempt hair. In the case of the annual Pop Montreal festival, it also means antisocial technological fetishists and electronic producers who survive on ramen and instant messenger suddenly emerging out of their bedroom studio caves. This year, there's plenty of bleep-blop at the Pop as several live gigs boast some fun, funky and fantastic electronic talent.

Tonight, Sept. 30, ninth-level electronic wizard Tim Hecker launches his excellent new album Mirages with Les Georges Leningrad and Q and Not U at Théâtre Corona (2490 Notre-Dame W., metro Lionel Groulx). A recent late-night pow-wow with Mr. Hecker revealed plans for an intense live performance that includes controlled-tempo strobe lights, stuffed ravens, goblets, a smoke machine, a keytar and some sort of medieval gimp mask. Consider yourself warned. Ten in advance, 12 at the door.

On Friday, Montreal technophile David Kristian dons his Gentle Bakemono guise for a live set with Toronto analog junkie Lowfish (of Suction and Ersatz Audio label fame) at the Elektrolysis night at the Ballroom (4532 Laval). Also on hand will be DJ Mini, and Blakkar Noir (aka Black Market) performing some "breakbeat sexualism" with live Rhodes piano and vocals. Six dollars.

Saturday night, if you've ever wondered what it would be like to see a grown man in a pink suit and dove-grey Homburg play solo Wurlitzer renditions of laptop pop songs, then you're in luck. Mantler will be taking the stage at O Patro Vys at 11 p.m. If any of the aforementioned is at all confusing, check his release on Tomlab, take the mandatory after-listen shower and get back to me.

If you're looking to break out of the standard rock show format, end the festival in Lynchian awkwardness at the Art Bizarre (Green Room/Main Hall) on Sunday, Oct. 3, 9 p.m. First, peruse work by photographers and artists such as Nathalie Daoust and Lea Donnan, then ogle the Faceless fashion show with designers Christine Dyball and Yasmine Wasfy, followed by Shalabi Effect and the Desert Fathers.

Off-Fest Best Bets: Tonight, Thursday, Sept. 30, the always-bumpin' DJ Czech hits Blizzarts for some futuristic funk. Stefie Shock drops a very special set of steamy tropical sounds (mambo salsa, boogaloo, merengue and samba) at Unity II's Friday College Night. Also on Friday, DJ Tobias c. van Veen provides a warm techno atmosphere for The Upgrade!, a free gathering of digital artists and curators where founder Yael Kanarek will be speaking on The Upgrade!'s history as well as discussing and presenting her work in new media. Shmooze time is at 7:30 p.m.

Oi! Shoes are built for dancing, not gazing! Diskoakimbo@sympatico.ca

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